CHARLESTON – A Charleston law firm seems to be making a Christmas tradition of helping dogs find homes.
A week before Christmas, The West Law Firm sponsored the adoption of 24 dogs at the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association. All of the sponsorships eventually were used.
“Come to the shelter soon to find that perfect gift that will keep on giving long after the other gifts will have lost their shine,” attorney Brooks West said when he first made the sponsorships available. “You’ll not only be providing a foster dog a new home and family, you’ll also be supporting the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association’s mission to continue to be guided by compassion and a leader in progressive animal sheltering, eliminating unwarranted euthanasia, and helping to create a community that celebrates life and the human-animal bond.”
Last December, The West Law Firm sponsored the adoption of 20 dogs. Then, West said shelter officials contacted him asking for help because he and the firm have done similar work before.
“We’ve done a few similar things with them in the past,” he said. “Once, we sponsored the adoption of some large dogs because they seem to be the hardest for the shelter to adopt out.”
West said he was inspired to first contact the shelter because of his lifelong love of animals and the shelter’s recent switch to being a no-kill facility.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be a vet,” he said. “But I was allergic to some animals, particularly cats.
“I see this as a way to, now that I am in a position to help, give back in some way. It’s good for us at the firm, and it’s good for the people we can help, too.”
Jessie Shafer, KCHA's director of development, said business sponsorships are a key part of the association's success.
"This year, KCHA, with invaluable help from the community, has been able to provide high quality care for more than 5,000 of Kanawha County's lost, homeless, abandoned and abused pets," Shafer said. "When businesses sponsor adoptions, everyone benefits. Our friends and neighbors are able to adopt their perfect companion, and we are able to save more animals.
"KCHA is extremely grateful to The West Law Firm for their kindness and generosity this holiday season. We attribute much of our success to our partnerships with local businesses. We also encourage anyone interested in learning how they can help to give us a call or stop by, as our work is far from over."
For more information about the sponsorship or to find out more about adopting animals, visit the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association at 1248 Greenbrier Street in Charleston, call 304-342-1576 or go to www.adoptcharleston.com.